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When the Kansas City Chiefs try to stave off the soaring Cleveland Browns in the AFC division round, they’ll have to do so without running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire in tow. The talented running back missed the final two weeks of the regular season with an ankle injury, but there was hope he would be healthy enough to return this week – especially with the Chiefs having obtained a bye in the round of jokers. That doesn’t appear to be the case, however, as Edwards-Helaire was reportedly ruled out against the Browns, by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The rookie’s first-round pick was initially viewed as questionable in the final injury report (Friday), but he did not participate in practice the two days leading up to that prediction. Barring a dramatic turn of events as the day progresses and potentially in pre-game warm-ups – assuming he’s allowed to participate – count Edwards-Helaire for this one.
That will once again force All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell to carry the load behind reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes alongside Darwin Thompson and Darrell Williams. Bell is no stranger to being RB1, but he hasn’t demonstrated the explosiveness in Kansas City that once led him to be one of the NFL’s most feared full-backs. All three combined for just four touchdowns this season and, for the prospect, that number is one less than Edwards-Helaire had.
The good news for the Chiefs is that Mahomes is still leading one of the deadliest passing attacks in the league, and there’s no way to slow down once he starts firing on all cylinders. But without Edwards-Helaire, the ability to balance it all could be compromised, forcing head coach Andy Reid to adjust or ask Bell to go back to what he once was, assuming he can. .
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